Community partners and local law enforcement promote responsible drug disposal
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (April 20, 2026) In an effort to reduce prescription drug misuse and related overdose deaths, NVRH and local community partners and law enforcement will team up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to host a Drug Take Back Day event from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at the St. Johnsbury Police Department offices at 1187 Main Street.
“Disposing of your unused meds at our office may be the easiest spring cleaning you’ll ever do,” says Caledonia County Sheriff Brandon Thrailkill.
Take Back Day provides a free, safe and convenient way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. According to the Vermont Department of Health, properly storing and disposing of medications can prevent potential misuse or accidental ingestion by loved ones, friends, or pets. For example, nearly half of the people who misused pain prescriptions obtained them from a relative or friend. Safe disposal of medications can also prevent dangers to our waterways and wildlife.
The Caledonia Sheriff’s Department and the St. Johnsbury and Haverhill Police Departments will be participating in this year’s event.
“We have supported this event for several years now as a safe and effective means of keeping expired or unused medications out of the landfills and public waters and keeping them from being diverted for means other than the medications were intended,” said Detective Seargeant Lester Cleary of the St. Johnsbury Police Department.
Since its inception, Take Back Day has removed more than 10,000 tons of medication from circulation.
“When unused medications are safely returned, our entire community benefits,” says NVRH Prevention Coordinator Cheryl Chandler. “National Drug Take Back Day reminds us that prevention starts locally and that small actions can save lives.”
Unable to participate in this Take Back Day? There are permanent drug take-back boxes available year-round for people to dispose of unused prescription drugs at the following locations:
- Caledonia County Sheriff’s Department – Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Essex County Sheriff’s Department – Monday – Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Hardwick Police Department – Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Haverhill Police Department – 24/7
- Lyndonville Police Department – please call 802-626-1271
- Johnsbury Police Department – 24/7
- Vermont State Police – Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Kinney Drug, 957 Memorial Drive, St. Johnsbury – during regular store hours
People may also use free pre-paid drug mail-back envelopes, available through the Vermont Department of Health or at NVRH’s Community Connections office at 55 Sherman Drive, to responsibly dispose of medications. While NVRH’s permanent drug take-back box is currently unavailable due to construction on the Emergency Department entrance, there is a drop box for sharps located outside the main hospital entrance.
Cosmetics, vitamins/supplements, thermometers, aerosol cans, inhalers, and needles are not accepted at prescription take-back box locations.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 25 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com or contact NVRH Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator Cheryl Chandler at c.chandler@nvrh.org or 802-748-7555.